''The Barber of Seville'' (French: ''Le Barbier de Séville'') is a

French film French cinema consists of the film industry and its film productions, whether made within the nation of France or by French film production companies abroad. It is the oldest and largest precursor of national cinemas in Europe; with primary influ ...

directed by Jean Loubignac released in

1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...

.Le Cinéma Français site
retrieved 29 July 2013 It is a screen version of the 1816 opera by

Rossini Gioachino Antonio Rossini (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who gained fame for his 39 operas, although he also wrote many songs, some chamber music and piano pieces, and some sacred music. He set new standards f ...

based on the 1775 play by

Beaumarchais Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (; 24 January 1732 – 18 May 1799) was a French polymath. At various times in his life, he was a watchmaker, inventor, playwright, musician, diplomat, spy, publisher, horticulturist, arms dealer, satirist, ...

(in the translation by Castil-Blaze). Filmed at the

Billancourt Studios Billancourt Studios was a film studio in Paris which operated between 1922 and 1992. Located in Boulogne-Billancourt, it was one of the leading French studios. It was founded in the silent era by Henri Diamant-Berger. During the Second World War ...

it uses the Théâtre national de l'Opéra-Comique production of the time. It was filmed in 1947, released in May 1948, and lasts around 95 minutes. The opera had been seen at all the principal lyric theatres in Paris; at the

Salle Favart The Salle Favart, officially the Théâtre de l'Opéra-Comique, is a Paris opera house and theatre, the current home of the Opéra-Comique. It was built from 1893 to 1898 in a neo-Baroque style to the designs of the French architect Louis Bernie ...

it had been performed over 500 times by the time of the film, which features several popular singers from the company.Wolff, Stéphane. ''Un demi-siècle d'Opéra-Comique 1900–1950.'' André Bonne, Paris, 1953, p. 27. The film director is Jean Loubignac, director of photography

René Colas René Colas (26 July 190116 October 1984) was a French cinematographer whose parents collaborated with Georges Méliès at the time of his birth. Filmography * 1926 : '' The Nude Woman'' by Léonce Perret * 1928 : '' The Orchid Dancer'' b ...

, sets by Louis Le Barbenchon, and producer Claude Dolbert, for Codo-Cinéma.

Cast

*Roger Bussonnet as Figaro *Raymond Amade as Almaviva *

Lucienne Jourfier Lucienne Jourfier (17 September 1923 in Toulouse - 10 January 2017 in Paris) was a 20th-century French operatic coloratura soprano. Biography Her father, Gaston Jourfier, a renowned painter and professor at the city's Fine Arts School, was alr ...

as Rosine *

Louis Musy Louis Musy (22 October 1902, Algeria – 19 October 1981) was a French operatic baritone and stage director principally active at the Paris Opéra-Comique. His teacher was Léon David.Kutsch KJ, Riemens L. ''Großes Sängerlexikon''. Francke, Bern ...

as Don Bartolo *

Roger Bourdin Roger Bourdin (14 June 1900 in Paris – 14 September 1973 in Paris) was a French baritone, particularly associated with the French repertory. His career was largely based in France. His daughter is Françoise Bourdin. Life and career Born in t ...

as Don Bazile *

Renée Gilly Renée Gilly (19 April 1906 – 31 March 1977) was a French operatic mezzo-soprano. She was a long-time principal member of the Opéra-Comique, where she performed leading roles such as Massenet's Charlotte, Mascagni's Santuzza, and Bizet ...

as Marceline *

Jean Vieuille Jean Vieuille was a French people, French bass-baritone singer (born Paris, 14 February 1902, died Saint-Georges-de-Didonne, 6 April 1967) who enjoyed a long stage career mainly centred at the Paris Opéra-Comique. Life and career His teachers w ...

as Pédrille *Gustave Wion as L'Officier *Serge Rallier as L'Alcade *Jean Retty as Le Notaire The chorus and orchestra of the Opéra-Comique are conducted by

André Cluytens André Cluytens (, ; born Augustin Zulma Alphonse Cluytens; 26 March 19053 June 1967)Baeck E. ''André Cluytens: Itinéraire d’un chef d’orchestre.'' Editions Mardaga, Wavre, 2009. was a Belgian-born French conductor who was active in the con ...

References

External links

*
''Le Barbier de Séville''
at

Ciné-Ressources ''Ciné-Ressources'' is a union catalogue of the libraries and archives of French cinema, created on 22 August 2007 and managed by the Cinémathèque française. Initiated by the in collaboration with the , it provides access to more than 200, ...

1948 films 1948 musical films French musical films Films directed by Jean Loubignac Films based on The Barber of Seville Films set in Seville Films set in the 18th century Films shot at Billancourt Studios French black-and-white films Opera films 1940s French films {{musical-film-stub